I'm not sure it makes any difference on the direction, but I always still turn it the way it would turn if you were using the crank bolt, i.e. clockwise when you are facing the engine. As I recall, I just used a big screwdriver as a lever right through the grates of the cover plate. It's not that hard to turn and you can watch for the drain plug to come into view, unlike using the crank bolt where you have to turn it, crawl under the car to see if you can see the drain plug and then repeat the process again and again until it comes into view.

__________________
Len
'59 220S Cabriolet-SOLD and living happily in Malta
'83 240D 351,500 miles original owner-SOLD
'88 560SL 41,000 miles - totaled and parted out
https://sites.google.com/site/mercedesstuff/home
'99 E300 turbo 227,500 miles
'03 SLK320 40,000 miles - gave to my daughter
'14 Smart electric coupe 28,500 miles
'14 Smart electric cabriolet 28,500 miles
'15 Smart electric coupe 28,000 miles